Brock’s season comes to an end in Hamilton

On Saturday, March 16, the Brock Badgers women’s volleyball team saw their 2023-24 season end as they fell to the host McMaster Marauders in three sets (25-27, 11-25, 13-25). 

Laurin Ainsworth was strong on the outside in today’s contest, leading the team with 10 kills and earning Player of the Match for Brock. The Blenheim, Ont product and fellow outside hitter Emily Foest each finished with a team-high 10 digs.  

Looking to take the home fans out of the game early, the Badgers came out to a 9-5 lead which led to a quick timeout from the hosts. McMaster kept chipping away and used a couple of aces from Sullie Sundara to take a 15-14 advantage. Their lead grew to 23-20 for the Marauders, forcing the Badgers to call their final timeout of the set. The Badgers tried to fight back, tying the score multiple times in extra points, but the Marauders ultimately took it 27-25.  

Sundara hit back-to-back aces for the Marauders once again, leading to a quick timeout from the Badgers as they were down 6-3 in the second set. A 13-8 lead for the hosts led to the second and final timeout for Brock. McMaster used eight service aces in the set to take it 25-11.  

The Badgers used two timeouts in the third set as they found themselves down 15-8. McMaster notched their best hitting percentage in the third set (.367) en route to a 25-13 win.  

This marks the end of the road for the Badgers’ season. After earning a third consecutive OUA title, Brock will look to get back into the provincial title game and national conversation in 2024-25.